The last three weeks have definitely run at a slower pace and I am close to feeling human again. Even the ‘traffic fairies’ have been on side – the drive from Norfolk to mum’s house in Sussex can take anything up to six hours if the Dartford Tunnel isn’t playing ball, but on the last 4 trips I have beaten the 3.5 hour barrier. Result!
On the work front it’s been the regular updating of client websites and discussing a couple of new briefs which will hopefully come to fruition. I also had an unexpected trip to Brightling Horse Trials on behalf of Horse & Hound; I’ve not been there for years, and had forgotten how incredible the views are.
Rather surprisingly I interviewed a RAF Paramedic Winchman for British Eventing Life (he’s also an amateur event rider!). What an amazing job, he must have balls of steel. As a current fixed wing and lapsed helicopter pilot I am bursting with excitement at the invitation to fly in to Paul’s RAF base and have a tour of the Sea King – I’ve not got long to get there though, the base is closing soon so fingers crossed for some good weather when I’m next in Norfolk, and not too many emergency calls for the crew.
Still on the flying front, I spent two days flying with one of my godsons, whose heart is set on getting his licence (many years ago I was an instructor). Norfolk was at her best, weather wise, and I even pulled off a couple of cracking landings, which I can’t always say!
Back in Sussex, mum achieved the last thing on her bucket list – getting to a concert run by her greatest friend, Aanna Colls, at Herstmonceux Castle. It was lovely to see the surprise and delight on so many people’s faces when I wheeled her in to the ballroom – and the music was fantastic.
Less happily I recently heard that one of my earliest employers, the uber-talented costumier Jane Johnson, had died of cancer. Still producing her fabulous creations at the start of this year, she was a remarkable woman who kept her patience when I was losing mine during the making of 46 ‘swans’ for the Festival Ballet’s Swan Lake; the major ballet and opera companies both here and abroad will be the poorer for not having Jane’s input.